UK to press Sri Lanka on rights, reconciliation

The Associated Press

Posted:
10/14/2013 11:00:00 PM PDT

Updated:
10/15/2013 10:14:48 PM PDT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—A British envoy says the United Kingdom's delegation to next month's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka will press the island nation to ensure progress on human rights and reconciliation.

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin said Tuesday that the British delegation led by Prime Minister David Cameron "will come with a clear message that Sri Lanka needs to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and the political settlement."

Sri Lanka faces rising international criticism for failing to address abuses during its decades-long civil war and ensure reconciliation in the four years since the war ended.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last week he'll boycott the summit due to human rights concerns, and he threatened to cut off funding to the organization of former British territories.